Tag Archives: hiking

Yearning for a well deserved vacay from the hectic Western lifestyle where each day flashes by with little in the way of cultivating our inner soul and playful spirit?

When was the last time you’ve enjoyed some quality personal time at a writers’ retreat to tap in to your creative side or a yoga retreat for some much needed rest & relaxation (R&R) and meditation to rejuvenate?

Or if food is your motivator, treat your palate to a Thai foodie adventure and add a side trip to learn how to cook Thai dishes.

Where can you find a warm sun drenched tropical beach town away from the main tourist destination where your dollar goes a long way?

Beach town balmy Prachuap, Thailand offers one of the best value off the beaten path vacation getaway.

Prachuap Khiri Khan, a scenic beach town 4.5 hours by train from Bangkok, checks off our list of requirements:

For a $1,000 USD monthly vacation getaway budget; this rental in Prachuap, South Eastern Coastal Thailand checked off all of our requirements in addition to being inexpensive with prices starting at $21 USD per night so a one month stay (31 nights) would cost $651 which leaves $349 for food, entertainment, and Thai massages, etc. In terms of food cost, a meal of savory grilled chicken or fish with sticky rice plus freshly made to order papaya salad and Thai iced tea will set you back only $3.50 USD.

If a non-touristy small beach town appeals to you, balmy Prachuap is that place.

This vacation rental retreat aptly named Baan Aomjai (which means “home of warm hearts” in the Thai language) is located in Prachuap Khiri Khan, a beach side town in Thailand accessible by daily air conditioned deluxe express bus directly from the Bangkok International airport. Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport (aka Suvarnabhumi Airport code: BKK) you can choose to take the express bus to Prachuap or alternatively take a taxi/Uber into Bangkok then take a scenic train ride from the Bangkok Train Station – namely the Hua Lamphong Railway Station to the beach town of Prachuap.

Baan Aomjai is available as a nightly rental or long term vacation rental; great for all travelers, digital nomads and writers. This beach town is a perfect retreat getaway from the busy city life in Bangkok. “Baan Aomjai consists of just five unique boutique holiday rentals, varying from a petite 15 square meter studio to a spacious 80 square meter 2 bed, 1 bath unit, all equipped with WiFi, air-condition and modern amenities.”

If you’d like a change from the local Thai food, there are excellent Western food options such as pizza, pasta (Italian), German and French food available​ ​in town.

The owners are helpful in getting you acquainted with Prachuap and​ ​can help​ ​you pick daily activities to enjoy your vacation or relax at scenic beach near by and ​go for a swim, get a tan or ​kick your feet up and relax under a palm tree reading your favorite book.

Prachuap is a scenic beach town for those seeking an alternative vacation destination to noisy​ ​city life in​ ​Bangkok.​ Added perks include inexpensive Thai massages in town that start at only 150 Baht (which equals to approximately $5 USD) and enjoy night markets for good value tasty eats and a great place to buy local artesian souvenirs for friends and family.

This is a newly built August 2016 vacation rental; the property is well maintained with daily maid service. A great place to stay for couples, solo adventurers, business travelers, and families with or without kids.

For freelancers, digital nomads, those looking to retire or live a life of an expat, Prachuap is one of the best expat options because of the (1) inexpensive cost of living (2) modern healthcare system where many doctors are trained in the UK, Australia and the USA (3) safe with significantly low incidence of crime (4) modern transportation infrastructure with easy international airport, train and modern bus connections (5) high speed internet (6) availability of many food options including Western styled restaurants and (7) abundant indoors entertainment options and outdoor adventures, and (8) Bangkok is the inexpensive travel hub for Southeast Asia where you can hop on an inexpensive flight to explore other regional destinations like Penang, Malaysia, Ankor Wat in Siem Riep, Cambodia, Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Bagan Myanmar, Coron, Philippines, Bali, Indonesia, Luang Prabang, Laos and Singapore among other South East Asia travel destinations.

Foodies, explore and enjoy some of Thailand’s best street food; your palate will dance happily.. for reference: $1 USD = 30 Thai Baht (as of November 2019); a bowl of Tom Yum Shrimp noodle soup will set you back about $2.50 USD or about 80 Baht; a freshly made to order Papaya Salad (som tum) will set you back about $1.25 USD or 40 Baht.

Watch the video below for the key attractions and things to do if you’re planning a Thailand vacay getaway and aiming to check off traveler’s top ten to do list:

“Thailand, also known as the Land of Smiles, is a jewel of Southeast Asia. Developed enough to provide most comforts yet still wild enough to offer off-the-beaten path adventure, Thailand is a country ripe with opportunity for once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Whether you start with the scenically stunning world-class beaches in the south or the mountain villages in the north, Thailand will not disappoint.” -planetware.com

A side-trip to consider:

If you’ve seen the movie,’The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio filmed in Thailand, you might want to visit the famous FILM SET of Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Lay, an enclave of paradise on the coastline of Koh Phi Phi Leh in Southern Coastal Thailand. Imagine a stunning beach cove, located 30 minutes away from a populated island. A cove whose crystal blue waters are almost glowing (swim, scuba, snorkel to your heart’s content), the sand silky soft dancing between your toes, the surrounding cliff faces beautifully dominant in a protective hug and where the surrounding choppy waters protect the enclave from human invaders.

“You fish, swim, eat, laze around, and everyone’s so friendly. It’s such simple stuff, but… If I could stop the world and restart life, put the clock back, I think I’d restart it like this. For everyone.” – Alex Garland, ‘The Beach’.

Snowshoeing is fun, easy and an inexpensive way to get out on the snow around Lake Tahoe to enjoy the great outdoors and partake in nature photography.

How to snowshoe?

Simply attach a pair of snowshoes to your waterproof hiking boots, and you are ready to go. It’s easy; if you can walk, you can snowshoe.

Where to rent or buy snowshoes?

For first timers, rent a pair of snowshoes at REI to try out snowshoeing. If you plan to go often, buy snowshoes at REI’s clearance deals (a quality pair of snowshoes will last you many years) or other sporting goods. Snowshoes are lightweight, easy to put on, and come with claws on the bottom for added hiking traction up and down hills.

Snowshoeing over packed snow is similar to hiking with large feet, but hiking through deep, fresh powder can be a good workout.

What to wear?

Dress in layers with the outer most layer being a waterproof jacket so you can peel off a layer when you warmed up; wear sweat wicking inner shirt, lightweight waterproof gloves, a hat/beanie, and also remember to pack sunglasses, sunblock lotion, water and a snack or lunch. Also bring ski poles to use which will help with stability/balance when trekking up and down hills.

Where to snowshoe in Tahoe? Flume Trail

My favorite spot for snowshoeing where you can enjoy panoramic views of Lake Tahoe is the Flume Trail. The Flume Trail is a 12.9 mile point-to-point trail located near Incline Village, Nevada. A great spot for picnicking is about 1 mile walk in where you can experienced beautiful panoramic views of the lake. Pack and enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. If you are taking your date or significant other, this is as romantic and scenic as you can get for a Tahoe outing. In the off season, mountain biking the Flume trail is a popular activity.

The Flume trailhead starts right behind the Tunnel Creek Cafe at 1115 Tunnel Creek Rd, Incline Village, NV 89451. Follow the blacktop road behind the cafe to the trailhead’s gate. If you eat or buy a drink at the cafe, you can ask to park at the cafe parking free of charge. Otherwise, park across the street for free.

Look for hotels and lodging deals in the vicinity of Incline Village, NV, Kings Beach, Tahoe City, or Crystal Bay. For first time booking, get $25 off Tahoe area hotels.

Good value breakfast deal can be had at the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge, Restaurant, Casino: Bilty’s breakfast goes for $6.25 (served 7 AM to 11 AM) is the best deal which includes three eggs any style with bacon, sausage or ham. Eggs cooked just the way you like, accompanied by hash brown potatoes and your choice of toast. Or stop by on Sundays for their $9.95 all you can eat brunch! After snowshoeing, enjoy Happy Hour 7 days a week 3pm-7pm with $1 Draft Beer $2 Well, $2 Jager shots, and $4 Patron Shots.

Experience Yosemite’s solitude backcountry ski and stay at the mountain cabin. The Yosemite Winter Club – Cross Country Ski Section has been active for decades. Its primary purpose is to provide supported ski trips.

The members of the Club pack and deliver caches into the various huts and cabins located throughout Yosemite in the late fall and retrieve them in the spring. Thus the members are able to ski with a much lighter packs containing only lunch, snacks, and sleeping bags.

Members have years of cross country skiing experience, including backcountry skiing, and are excited to teach others who wish to learn and experience the thrill of skiing into the back country of Yosemite in the middle of winter. Come view at least 40 years of trips throughout Yosemite, learn about how the ski equipment has developed over the years and the opportunities to learn how to cross country ski or broaden your knowledge of cross country skiing into the back country realm.

Winter Yosemite backcountry ski and snowboard points of interest:

+ Glacier Point
+ Half Dome

More About the Yosemite Winter Backcountry Ski Club

The purpose of this club is to foster regional amateur and recreational Nordic and Alpine snow skiing, snowboarding, skating competitions and events, while supporting and developing amateur athletes and recreational winter sport enthusiasts for such competitions and events.

The Yosemite Winter Club (YWC) is a non-profit organization bringing winter sporting opportunities to outdoor enthusiast since 1928.

Jane Raschke-Goodman of The Yosemite Winter Club – Cross Country Ski and Backcountry Ski. Read more about YWC.

Mountain Hub is a community-fueled app that helps you discover and share valuable information in the outdoors. Join thousands of outdoor professionals and enthusiasts across the globe in a diverse community spanning backcountry skiing, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, camping, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, mountaineering, and more. Get updates about current conditions and adventures from outdoor enthusiasts like you. Enhance your outdoor experience with useful tools like maps and route tracking. Share your knowledge and experience with our passionate outdoor community. Save a variety of maps for offline use when you’re in the backcountry. Without a subscription fee or app purchase, you can access Mountain Hub for free on any platform… Free app for Android and iPhone iOS

♥ Share this page with friends and family via *protected email*, twitter, facebook.

Tahoe ski resorts extended their closing dates as a result of record snow totals(54 feet of snow recorded for the season at Mt Rose as of March 2017). Enjoy Spring skiing and riding in shorts if you like.

Sierra at Tahoe will be opened until April 24. Sierra will honor guests with Customer Appreciation Day on Monday, April 24; skiers and riders of all ages can purchase a lift ticket for only $35 on April 24, 2017. Trail Map | Cam

Want to sleep and let a professional driver take you to Tahoe resorts?Book a discount SF Bay Area to Tahoe ski bus trip: one day and overnight bus trips. Enjoy a full day of skiing or riding; sleep on the way to Tahoe and watch movies on the return.

Looking to cross country ski or back-country ski or ride? You can enjoy the snow at Mount Shasta until late summer. It’s the perfect place for cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, glissading, or for the ambitious few, to trek up one of the high ridges and then ski or snowboard down into one of Shasta’s vast bowls. Base elevation 8,000 feet, peak elevation 14,179 feet. Read more at SFgate.com

Save up to 50% on Cold Weather Clothing and Footwear. Plus Save 50% off or more at REI Garage! Shop early for the best selection. Free U.S. Standard Shipping on all Skis and Snowboards. Earn a $100 REI Gift Card when you apply for an REI Mastercard. Browse clearance sale items.

♥ Share this page with friends and family via *protected email*, twitter, facebook.